Tennis-racket frame



July 14, 1925.

W. C. RASTETTER TENNIS RACKET FRAME Filed Aug. 25, 1924 INVENTR ATTORNEYPatented July 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM: C. RASTETTER, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

TENNIS-RACKET FRAME.

Application led august 25, 1924. Serial No. 733,915.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM C. Basra' TER, citizen of the UnitedStates of America, and resident of Fort Vayne, in the county of Allenand State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin rlennis-laclret Frames, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tennis racket frames, and theobject thereof is to so construct the frame as to afford added strengthto those parts of the frame in the region of the juncture of its loopand handle and thus reduce the tendency of the frame to become fracturedat these points.

This object is accomplished by the construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a fragmentary front elevation ofa structure embodying the invention, there being portions broken away;and F ig. 2 is a side elevation of the saine.

rIhe characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in thedrawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters.

The invention comprises an oval frame l formed of wooden or fibrouslaminae 2, 3, A, 5, 6 and 7 glued together, there being a heart 8 andhandle 9 fixed in connection with the terminals of the laminac in thecustomary manner. Also, a reinforcing strip l0 is secured upon the topof the heart and contiguous portions of the frame.

In each side of the frame, midway between its front and back isinterposed a reinforcement l1 constructed of wooden or fibrous materialthat extends in a plane at right angles to those of the laminae of whichthe frame is composed, the reinforcement extending also into thecorresponding side of the heart and through the strip 10. Thereinforcement may be formed of laminae l2, 13 and lll and is glued inplace in the frame.

rThe frame has made therein the customary series of holes l5 for thereception of the strands (not shown) with which the frame is strung, theholes 16 within the region of the juncture of the loop of the frame andthe heart are disposed through the corresponding reinforcements. j

The outer marginal edge of each reinforcement extends through and isflush with the outer surface of 'the external lamina 7, and its innermarginal edge extends through and is flush with the exposed surfaceofthe strip 10. The ends 17 of each reinforcement converge inwardlyrespecting the frame and bear against the corresponding adjacentsurfaces thereof so that the reinforcement is wedged in place and thusprevented` from being drawn inwardly towards the opening of the frame bythe tension of the strands.

As the reinforcements lie in a common plane at right angles to thelaminae of the frame, rigidity to a greater degree is afforded thoseregions of the frame when thus reinforced than in the usual structureand a corresponding stiffness in the frame is effected.

What I claim is l. A tennis racket frame consisting of a loop formed offibrous laminae and having a contiguous handle, a heart fixed at thejuncture of the loop and handle; a strip covering the top of the heartand portions of the loop adjacent thereto; and a reinforcement extendinginto each side of the frame in a plane midway between its front and backand at right angles to the laminae of the frame, the ends of eachreinforcement extending convergently inward respecting the frame andbearing against the corresponding surfaces thereof adjacent thereto.

2. In a tennis racket frame having a loop and contiguous handleincluding a heart at its juncture with the loop, the loop of which isformed of fibrous laminae that extend around the loop in correspondingcurved planes disposed in successive order from the 'inner perimeter ofits rim to its outer perimeter; and a reinforcement set into each sideof the frame at the juncture of the loop and handle portion in a planemidway between its front and back and at right angles to the laminre ofthe frame, the ends of each reinforcement extending convergently inwardrespecting the frame and bearing against the corresponding surfacesthereof adjacent thereto.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM C. RASTETTER. Witnesses:

MATILDA- METTLER, WALTER G. BURNS.

